Roof for suspended electric conductors



(No Model.)

0. J. VAN DBP ELE. ROOF FOR SUSPENDED ELEGTRIG GONDUGTORS.

No. 367,475. Patented Aug. 2, 1887.

WITNESSES y i/s .dttorney N PETERS, Fholo llilhngnphor. Waahi c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ROOF FOR SUSPENDED ELECTRIC coNouoToRe.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 367,475, dated August 2, 1887. Application filed March lfl, 1857. Serial No. 230,647. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. VAN DE- POELE, a citizen of the United States, residing workingcurrent to be supplied to the motors on the cars; and it consists in providing acontinuous roof for said conductor, the object being to effectually'protect it from accumulations of ice in cold weather, and also to protect the traveling contaetwhen passing thereon.

In the accompanying drawings is shown an arrangement such as I have referred to, the particulars of construction and operation of which will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 is a View in perspective showing a portion of an electric railway, the suspended conductor of which is provided with a roof according to my invention. Fig. 1 is a detail. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the construe tion of the frame of the roof, and Figs. 3 and 4 are slightly-modified forms thereof.

Similarletters denote like parts throughout.

A is the track. 13 B are poles for supporting a cross wire or cable, 0, from which is suspended by a suitable insulating hanger or support, D, the conductor E to be protected.

The roof F, which is located above the conductor is constructed of tarred canvas, paper, or any suitable fabric or material that has been treated with a waterproofing and preferably aninsulating compound. The material, in the form of long continuous strips f, is prepared in any convenient manner and then packed in rolls ready for use.

The frame upon which the covering is supported may consist, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, of a triangular board, G, secured to and resting upon the cross-wire O, and provided at its apex and bases with wires 9, of iron or any other cheap metal,which are firmly secured to the pieces G, located at each supportingpoint, and extend continuously between said supports and above the conductor E. Additional supports in the form of a light frame of iron or other material will be inserted at in tervals between the main supports to keep the wires g in proper relationship, and these ad ditional pieces may be similar to the one G, or substantially as shown at G, Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3 is shown a slight modification of the foregoing, in which, instead of the roof being supported entirely above the cross-wires, wire-supports G or boards G are secured to and depend from the insulator D, and the canvas covering is applied directly thereto.

In Fig. 4 the structure is slightly modified for use in connection with a particular form of insulator, D, which is in the form of a tube, from which one or more conductors are suspended by hangers e. In this instance, instead of a board G, I find it more convenient to use a wire frame, as in Fig. 3, the top wire, 9, being supported by an upright rod or stay, H, and the base-wires supporting the caves of the roof, resting directly upon the tubular insulator, the central support, as well' as the wires 9 preferably attached thereto by clips or bands h.

The supporting-wires g g being in position along the line of the conductor E, the previously-prepared covering is unrolled and laid thereover, the lower edge being securely fastened by rivets, staples, stitches, &c., or by adhesion to the lower wires or caves, and is then stretched longitudinally and also over the top wire on one side, the covering from the other side being arranged to lap over that first applied, the edges or ends of the two sheets of material being united by hot tar, asphaltum, or any suitable cement.

In case of leaks, breaks, or injury to the covering a piece of new material coated with the protective substance or a suitable cement can be applied at any time, and in this manner repairs easily made.

I have suggested the use of two strips of material; but it will be obvious that I may use a single strip of sufficient width, and in that manner avoid the central lap, if found desirable; but the lapped joint has its advantages, in that the most exposed portion of the line is in that manner provided with a double thickness of material.

longitudinal wires mounted upon said supports, and the fabric placed over said wires, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with a suspended eonductor, of a continuous roof consisting of the supports upon the er0ss-wires, the longitudinal wires attached to said supports, the additional supports to keep the wires in proper relation, and the covering or fabric, all. sub-- stantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereto allix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. VAN DEPOELE. \Vitnesses:

FRANKLAND JANNUS, H. A. LAMB. 

